Japanese Chin health: what owners should know

Known problems in the breed include breathing difficulty linked to the flat face, eye conditions such as cataracts and corneal ulcers, loose kneecaps, heart valve disease in older dogs, and dental disease. A rare inherited nerve disease, GM2 gangliosidosis, also occurs, and there is a DNA test for it. Responsible breeders check knees, hearts and eyes, favor dogs with open nostrils, and test for known genetic conditions.

A slim Chin breathes more easily, so weight control is one of the most useful things you can do. Book a dental check at every yearly visit. Go to a vet the same day if an eye looks cloudy, squinty or keeps watering, or if the dog paws at it, because eye injuries can worsen within hours. Noisy breathing at rest, fainting, a persistent cough or a back leg that keeps skipping also need an appointment.